Isaac Rothschild
August 2011

By Michele Mirto

 

Isaac Rothschild has been selected as the Outstanding

Pro Bono Attorney of the Month for August.  Isaac has

been involved with Southern Arizona Legal Aid’s Volunteer

Lawyers Program (VLP) since 2004, when he joined the

program as a law student volunteer.  Since his admission to the bar in 2007

Isaac has volunteered to assist VLP clients with bankruptcy and consumer

matters.  In addition, Isaac helps the VLP with the Bankruptcy Reaffirmation

Clinic where he now supervises law students as they meet with clients in

Bankruptcy Court.  The VLP’s monthly award is a distinct honor: of the nearly

1300 attorneys who volunteer their time with VLP, only 12 receive the VLP’s

Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney award each year.  The award will be presented

to Isaac at the VLP's 15th Annual Awards Luncheon on October 6.

 

Q & A with Isaac Rothschild:          

 

Where are you from?

Tucson

 

Where did you go to college?

University of Denver

 

Where did you go to law school?

University of Arizona

 

How long have you lived in Tucson?

Almost my entire life

 

What is the history of your practice of law?

My first court appearances were as VLP student in bankruptcy reaffirmation

hearings, after law school I clerked for the Honorable Raner C. Collins for two

years at the District Court in Tucson before starting with Mesch, Clark, &

Rothschild, PC in October of 2009.

 

What are your current practice areas?

 Business Reorganization and bankruptcy law

 

What drives you to volunteer with VLP?

I enjoy being able to inform people about their legal rights and guide them

through the judicial system. I also enjoy working with law students.

 

Anyone you would like to acknowledge for contributing to your legal

career / pro bono service?

When it comes to pro bono service the most influential people are my mother,

Karen Speigel, and my father, Jonathan Rothschild, who from a very young age

made it clear the importance of helping others when you are able. Whether it

was volunteering at the Community Food Bank over the summer or mentoring

with Big Brothers Big Sisters, my current involvement with Arts for All, the

Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, and VLP are just continuations

of the activities I was encouraged to do from my childhood.

 

The list of people contributing to my legal career is vast and too extensive to list

but includes colleagues, friends, and professors, but I would like to give special

mention to Raner Collins and my grandfather, Lowell Rothschild, who taught me

early and often that in the practice of law, while the law is important it is much

more about individuals.

 

One reason you would encourage attorneys to volunteer with VLP?

The staff at the VLP is so great about organizing the events and client

introductions that it is possible to make a big difference in people’s lives

quickly.

 

Other VLP volunteers you'd like to give a shout-out to?

Randi Burnett, a law school classmate, who spends everyday doing what I am

being acknowledged for doing a few times a month.

 

Favorite Tucson restaurant?

Depends on the day, there are so many good ones, but I can always eat at         

Tavolinos, 47 Scott/Scott & Co. (best drinks in town), CeeDee’s, and

Taqueria Pico de Gallo.

 

Things you do when not working or volunteering your legal services?

Try new restaurants with Tanya Miller, go see movies, hike, play chess against

Grael Norton or Joel Feinman, but mainly just spend time around family and

friends.

 

Best thing about being an attorney in Tucson?

The other attorneys.

 

Worst thing about being an attorney in Tucson?

It would be nicer to be closer to a tropical paradise.

 

If you ever retire from private practice, it will be to start a new career as

a ______?

Baseball General Manager, college professor, or judge in that order.

 

Things that you wish were closer to your office?

A window.

 

Are you a dog or a cat person?

Dog people throughout the generations. I love my dog, Ajax. Cats are

beginning to grow on me.